Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 467 - 460: Answer Questions and Solve Doubts

Chapter 467: Chapter 460: Answer Questions and Solve Doubts

"I have a question that I would like to ask Your Majesty, wondering if you could answer for me," Cheng Ziang said, his hands crossed as he feigned distress.

"If you have anything unclear, feel free to ask. I might be able to answer it for you," the queen said lightly.

"We all know that the Human Race is currently the most populous on the entire continent, and their food supply has always been scarce. What would be the result if their food production were to suddenly increase tenfold, or a hundredfold, one day?"

"Of course..." The queen instinctively wanted to answer, but subconsciously felt that the question wasn’t as straightforward as it seemed. Watching Cheng Ziang’s confident expression, she couldn’t help but knit her brows, analyzing every word he had just spoken.

"Of course, everyone will be able to eat and live a prosperous life!" a young female Elf guard standing in front of the queen couldn’t help but interject. The queen didn’t reproach her because she had voiced the answer that the queen was just about to say.

Following the guard’s answer, Cheng Ziang stood motionless, a mysterious smile on his face. Seeing this, the Elf guard felt a hint of apprehension and couldn’t help but ask in a weak voice, "Did I say something wrong?"

"Your desire for a good life is commendable, but unfortunately, the answer is wrong!" Cheng Ziang shrugged his shoulders, showing a helpless expression.

"Why?" asked the Elf guard. Not only was she curious, but so were most of the people present.

"Based on the past experiences of us, the people of Earth, a sudden increase in food production can only bring short-lived prosperity. As food production increases, the population will also multiply geometrically, and a new issue of food scarcity will appear soon," Cheng Ziang explained.

"Then we just increase it again!" the female Elf guard quickly responded.

"Increasing it again will yield the same results. The population will rise until there isn’t enough food." Cheng Ziang knew that this issue was unexpected and difficult for the Elves, who had a low birth rate and long growth cycle.

"More importantly, how do we deal with the surplus population? They have to cut down many forests, build houses to live in, reclaim farmland, and maintain a large population. The faster the population grows, the faster their expansion rate," Cheng Ziang continued.

"How could this be?" asked the female Elf guard with confusion painted on her face. The reason why the queen hadn’t stopped her was because she, too, was perplexed.

"This is the law of population growth. The question you ought to ponder is not why the population grows at such a rate but what should be done with the surplus population," Cheng Ziang said.

"What do we have to do with the surplus population?" the female Elf guard asked, furrowing her brows.

"Of course, it matters," Cheng Ziang casually replied. "The surplus population, with no means of sustenance, will either die or resort to other methods. But they are living beings and will not succumb so easily. The best solution, hence, is war. By declaring war, they can reduce this population, expand their territory, and create more fertile lands to nourish more people."

"You may think this is a matter for the Human Race and has nothing to do with the Elf Race. Don’t forget: the Northern lands are already densely populated. If the Humans’ food production increases by tenfold, they will not be able to survive their lands and will be forced to expand southwards. The population of the Ancient States may not be as high, but once their food capacity also multiplies by tenfold, they will be pressured to expand north due to population pressure. So, who do you think will end up being the unlucky ones?" Cheng Ziang asked.

"The crisis you speak of is merely hypothetical. In reality, how could food production possibly increase by tenfold all of a sudden?" the queen presented a counter-argument as she reestablished herself and calmly responded.

"Why does Your Highness believe that food production can’t increase by tenfold?" Cheng Ziang challenged.

The queen fell silent.

"I would like to introduce a concept from Earth called the Industrial Revolution. You don’t need to understand its implications; you just need to know that it can increase food production by tenfold and provide the surplus population with more powerful weapons," Cheng Ziang calmly said.

"Can you imagine such a scene? As the population increases, the surplus of people, desperately trying to survive, brandish advanced weapons and go on conquests, fighting for more land and more chances of survival for their own kind. Now, you shouldn’t feel like this has nothing to do with you," Cheng Ziang said with a slight smile on his face.

Looking at their reactions, he knew his scare tactics had worked. Although everything he said was not entirely made up, it was indeed magnified. His purpose was to coax these comparatively naïve elves into compromise.

After a long silence, the queen couldn’t help but ask, "According to you, once the Human Race has more food, they would wage war, correct?"

"Yes!" Cheng Ziang nodded. Historical experience told him that this is not some sensational talk.

"That is to say, even if we maintain friendly relations with the Ancient States, someday they might invade Ilanadale to solve their domestic population problem?" The queen continued.

"Well, as an outsider, I won’t discuss the issues between your nation and the Ancient States. I’m only putting forth my speculation for Your Majesty’s reference. If Ilanadale and the Ancient States have a friendly relationship, then the Ancient States should adopt a relatively mild approach to seize the territory of Ilanadale."

"Is this a prophecy?" asked the queen.

"No, this is speculation!" Cheng Ziang responded.

"How did you arrive at such a speculative conclusion?" The queen questioned, her brows furrowed.

"Because those who lag behind, get beaten!" Cheng Ziang bluntly spouted the well-known saying.

"Nonsense, Ilanadale is not a backward nation, you’re insulting Ilanadale!" One of the female elf guards angrily stood up and pointed at him.

Looking at her, a cold smirk appeared on Cheng Ziang’s face: "Thirty years ago, what weapons did Ilanadale use in its war against the Earth’s army? Bows and arrows, short swords, long spears. Thirty years later, what are they now? Bows and arrows, short swords, long spears. In thirty years, your weapons have not progressed at all, even pirates are aware of the Earth’s armament, what about you?"

While he was speaking, he couldn’t help but shake his head.

Cheng Ziang’s words reflected the truth because the Earth’s influence over the Otherworld was indeed significant. Just based on the arms trade, thirty years of interaction has seen Earth’s weapons pervade the Otherworld Continent, from the North Territory to the Ancient States, Earth’s weapons are everywhere.

However, Ilanadale is practically an anomaly on the continent, barely affected by Earth’s weapons, stubbornly using traditional cold weapons as their primary armament.

Cheng Ziang did also acknowledge that Ilanadale’s Kedal metal could cause lethal damage to Earth’s armour. But this isn’t a reason to resist Earth’s weapons and cling onto cold weapons.

Even bandits and pirates in the Otherworld are aware that Earth’s firearms far surpass bows and crossbows in power—wielding a gun is undoubtedly more deterrent than wielding a crossbow. Yet, Ilanadale has shown no change. They, like stubborn old conservatives, holding onto their traditional cold weapons, are self-indulgent.

In any world, power is power, and power is the rationale. Otherworld countries are at best ordinary, so no one has thought of laying hands on Ilanadale for now. Once the Industrial Age arrives, as powers grow, their ambitions will also swell rapidly. By then, Ilanadale, being a soft persimmon, will undoubtedly be a delicious appetizer.

Forget about Ilanadale maintaining eternal friendship with the Ancient States, and forget about the indestructible Kedal metal. In the face of real benefits, these are trivial matters not worth mentioning. The Ancient States may promote freedom and equality, but the day it becomes powerful, it could turn against Ilanadale faster than flipping a book. Then, one could say that Ilanadale is in a jinx.

Cheng Ziang didn’t initially propose cooperation between the two parties. Instead, he bluntly pointed out the major trends of the future and Ilanadale’s current problems. All this was to make Ilanadale choose to cooperate with them voluntarily or even force them to make a decision beneficial to him.

Queen Lilith is a queen because she has to consider the future of most Wood Elves and the future of Ilanadale. Therefore, she could absolutely not be shortsighted. Every step she takes will profoundly influence the future of Ilanadale.

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